I mean, not to be cynical or anything, but, gee. This sure fits with the time line, doesn't it?
Source: U.S., U.K. at odds over timing of arrests/British wanted to continue surveillance on terror suspects, official says by Aram Roston, Lisa Myers, and the NBC News Investigative Unit 08/12/06
A senior British official knowledgeable about the case said British police were planning to continue to run surveillance for at least another week to try to obtain more evidence, while American officials pressured them to arrest the suspects sooner. The official spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the case.
In contrast to previous reports, the official suggested an attack was not imminent, saying the suspects had not yet purchased any airline tickets. In fact, some did not even have passports.
The source did say, however, that police believe one U.K.-based suspect was ready to conduct a "dry run." British authorities had wanted to let him go forward with part of the plan, but the Americans balked. ...
It seems that even Tony Blair's government is worried about the Cheney-Bush administration's torture program and flouting of international law:
Aside from the timing issue, there was excellent cooperation between the British and the Americans, officials told NBC.
The British official said the Americans also argued over the timing of the arrest of suspected ringleader Rashid Rauf in Pakistan, warning that if he was not taken into custody immediately, the U.S. would "render" him or pressure the Pakistani government to arrest him.
British security was concerned that Rauf be taken into custody "in circumstances where there was due process," according to the official, so that he could be tried in British courts. Ultimately, this official says, Rauf was arrested over the objections of the British.
... The source said the suspects in Britain had obtained at least some of the materials for the explosive but had not yet actually prepared or mixed it.
1 comment:
Hard to say who was right, the Brits or us, on the timing of the arrests.
As for rendering / torture, the Brits do not have clean hands either. And on the whole, I think Blair has failed to influence Bush in these matters as much as has the Dark Lord, Dick Cheney. Blair and the Brits may protest weakly, but they go along with us every sordid step of the way.
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